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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 2d

this is very nice indeed

Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 7d

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Watch the whole episode on YouTube here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjZf...

or listen at: podfollow.com/the-northern...

(Featuring great editing work by @podcastjourno.bsky.social)

Labour Conference in Liverpool - The Northern Agenda Podcast

YouTube video by Liverpool ECHO

www.youtube.com

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 7d

Will Greater Manchester be left out in the cold by Keir Starmer's government after Andy Burnham's high-profile antics at Labour conference?

I chat with @liamthorp.bsky.social and @josephtiman.bsky.social on the Northern Agenda podcast this week - recorded in the Liverpool Echo's fancy studio!

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Reposted by Rob Parsons

Urban Transport Group @utg-uk.bsky.social · 9d

It was fantastic to welcome Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister, for an in-conversation event with @robparsonsna.bsky.social at #LabourConference2025 yesterday.

The discussion, jointly hosted by the Railway Industry Association, covered key topics such as rail devolution and the case for investment.

Lord Peter Hendy (middle) at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 12d

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Listen to the full episode here:

podfollow.com/the-northern...

The Northern Agenda: 'We need to talk about Andy': Could Labour conference become the Burnham show?

The Westminster circus is preparing to descend once again on the Liverpool docks as Labour holds its annual party conference at the city's big convention centre.It'll be five days of political deba...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 12d

'It won't do Andy Burnham any harm to be seen to be at war with an unpopular government'

Was great to have
@patrickmaguire.bsky.social of The Times on the Northern Agenda podcast this week with @liamthorp.bsky.social and I to chat Labour conference, Hillsborough Law and his love of Southport

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 23d

'The qualities that made Angela Rayner so good are those you're more likely to see in Northern people'

@liamthorp.bsky.social on the Labour deputy leader race...

Have a listen to this week's episode of The Northern Agenda podcast here:

podfollow.com/the-northern...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 26d

Sorry for another self-indulgent post but it was my last newsletter as Northern Agenda Editor today 😢

You can read it here:

newsletters.e.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/nxOY1JhcPDmq...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · 26d

Does it matter if Labour's next Deputy Leader is a Northern woman? And why have Reform UK got it wrong about Northern Powerhouse Rail?

@liamthorp.bsky.social and I talk about this - and more - on the Northern Agenda podcast.

Have a listen here!

podfollow.com/the-northern...

The Northern Agenda: Bridget vs Lucy: should Labour's next deputy leader be a Northern woman?

Rob Parsons and Liam Thorp are back discussing the week's political news from a Northern perspective and there are some big questions to answer.As Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell compete ...

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Reposted by Rob Parsons

YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 29d

69% of Northerners - and 62% of Britons - back the construction of new high-speed railways between northern cities in principle, amid Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice saying his party would axe such schemes

North of England
Support: 69%
Oppose: 16%

All Britons
Support: 62%
Oppose: 19%

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Reposted by Rob Parsons

Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Sep 6

I'm sad to see Local Govt and Devo Minister Jim McMahon lose his job in Keir Starmer's big reshuffle - not least because I'd just interviewed him for the Northern Agenda podcast...

Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall.

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Sep 6

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Listen to the full interview here:

podfollow.com/the-northern...

The Northern Agenda: Rewiring England: Devolution and local power with Oldham's Jim McMahon

This week, Rob Parsons speaks to Jim McMahon, a Northern politician at the heart of Government.In the Commons this week - before her tax affairs become engulfed in controversy - Deputy Prime Mi...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Sep 6

I'm sad to see Local Govt and Devo Minister Jim McMahon lose his job in Keir Starmer's big reshuffle - not least because I'd just interviewed him for the Northern Agenda podcast...

Here he is talking about empowering local leaders and how too many decisions are still being made in Whitehall.

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Sep 5

I have some job news...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Sep 4

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Jim McMahon was speaking to me on The Northern Agenda podcast - full episode out first thing tomorrow

podfollow.com/the-northern...

The Northern Agenda

The Northern Agenda is a weekly podcast covering politics and public affairs from across the North of England, voiced by journalists who are outside the Westminster bubble, reporting from the other si...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Sep 4

"It doesn't send a good sign when councils close the door and refuse to engage with the local press."

Local Government Minister (and former Oldham council leader) @jimmcmahon.co.uk
on Reform UK's Nottingham Post/Notts Live ban...

@oliverpridmore.bsky.social

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Reposted by Rob Parsons

The Northern Agenda @thenorthernagenda.bsky.social · Sep 2

This story might be worth bearing in mind next time shadow justice secretary @robertjenrickmp.bsky.social talks about law and order😐

From today's Northern Agenda newsletter, great scoop by
@paddyedrich.bsky.social in the Liverpool Echo

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 15

Really terrible news for everyone at Vivergo and the rest of the bioethanol industry as the Government refuses to offer funding to support it.

The US-UK trade removed tariffs on more than £1bn of cheaper US imports, fatally undermining what could have been a major domestic growth industry...

Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 14

The Starmer-Trump US-UK trade deal removing tariffs on £1bn+ of cheaper US ethanol means Hull firm
Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in.

Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 14

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Ben explains why Vivergo's possible collapse could have huge knock-on implications for the rest of the country...

Listen here:

podfollow.com/the-northern...

The Northern Agenda: Biofuel battleground: Why the fate of Hull's Vivergo Fuels matters

Rob Parsons looks at a story playing out in the North that sits squarely in the middle of two huge issues Keir Starmer and the Labour government want to be judged on at the next election: economic...

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 14

The Starmer-Trump US-UK trade deal removing tariffs on £1bn+ of cheaper US ethanol means Hull firm
Vivergo Fuels will have to start making staff redundant on Tuesday - unless govt steps in.

Here's the firm's MD Ben Hackett speaking on The Northern Agenda podcast today

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 12

yes I thought it was interesting that the water firms' investment (paid for by hiking water bills) is listed alongside taxpayer-funded investment in railways/schools etc in the online portal

though to be fair it does make it clear which is private and which is public investment

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 12

12/12

More on this in my Northern Agenda Extra newsletter: have a read here:

www.linkedin.com/pulse/clean-...

And sign up for the FREE daily newsletter at www.thenorthernagenda.co.uk

🌊 Clean water is North's biggest infrastructure project - but who's paying?

"A dynamic, forward-looking infrastructure pipeline is exactly what business needs to plan, invest, and build with confidence." That was the glowing verdict of John Foster, Chief Policy and Campaigns ...

www.linkedin.com

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 12

11/12

But as the graphic above by data journalist Paul Gallagher shows, the East of England does best of all in raw funding and the amount spent per head of population based on the data currently available.

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 12

10/12

Some £37.3 billion of infrastructure spending is promised in the North West, £20.4bn in Yorkshire and the Humber and £9.5bn in the North East, meaning there's more money coming per head to the North in the next 10 years than the South East and London.

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Rob Parsons @robparsonsna.bsky.social · Aug 12

9/12

Looking at the wider picture, with Labour promising to refocus infrastructure spending on the North and Midlands after years where these regions have lost out to the South East, there's good news about how that's playing out in practice so far.

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